Horror as horse is euthanised after suffering severe injuries in shocking head-first race fall – with jockey rushed to hospital
- Teo Nugent seriously injured in horror fall at Mooney Valley
- His mount Florescent Star had to be humanely euthanised
A horse has been euthanised after suffering severe injuries in a horror fall at Mooney Valley racecourse.
Florescent Star came down after clipping the heels of the runner in front at Moonee Valley’s All-Star Mile meeting in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.
Shocking footage showed the disturbing moment the five-year-old mare fell head-first into the turf.
Jockey Teo Nugent was attended to by on-course medicos before being taken to hospital.
Nugent was thrown to the ground in front of a wall of horses in the sixth race of the meeting, the listed 1200-metre Abell Stakes.
The 24-year-old was taken by ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital but is conscious and able to move all of his limbs.
Jockey Teo Nugent has been seriously injured and his mount had to be humanely euthanised after a horror fall at Mooney Valley racecourse on Saturday afternoon
The Amy and Ash Yargi-trained galloper was seen pummeling through the inside rail and then laying down on the inner track before a green screen was set up to hide the horrific scene.
Following the passing of their beloved five-year-old mare, Argi Racing took to Twitter to write, ‘We are devastated. We love you Flo’.
Florescent Star was travelling strongly up to the final corner when she ran up the backside of the tiring leaders as they turned into the home straight, clipping the heels of In The Boat.
Harry Coffey who was aboard In the Boat said the incident ‘looked a bit yuck’ and felt fortunate it wasn’t him and his mount who fell.
‘Thoughts to Teo and obviously the horse’s connections that he was on,’ Coffey said.
‘That looked a bit yuck, and I was following Teo, and it’s amazing how racing works; if my filly had have jumped cleaner, which we would have liked to do, we could have been in his spot instead of a pair further back.
‘That’s the way racing goes, it’s all about luck.’
The five-year-old mare had to be been humanely euthanised after suffering significant injuries when she fell head-first into the turf (pictured: Florescent Star after winning the McIntyre Sprint in 2021)
Nugent had to be attended to by on-course medicos at Moonee Valley’s All-Star Mile meeting on Saturday afternoon after his horse Florescent Star fell after clipping the heels of the runner in front
The fall comes as just last week jockey Jamie Kah suffered a serious concussion and Craig Williams broke several bones when they both suffered falls in the same race at Flemington.
The week prior Ethan Brown was also hospitalised after his horse fell during the Australian Guineas.
Jockey Jamie Mott previously said while you never think about it during the race, it makes you reflect on the dangers post-race.
‘It can happen to anyone. No, it doesn’t scare you, but it makes you realise what really can happen [on the track],’ Mott told The Age.
‘Obviously, we’re all really worried. As soon as a fall happens, whoever it is, and it’s relieving to find out that they’re going to be fine,’ Mott said.
‘[You] give your support as much as you can … We’re all a really good group of jockeys, we do rally behind each other, and definitely, we’re there if anyone needs us.’
Nugent was taken by ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital but is conscious and able to move all of his limbs (pictured: Teo Nugent aboard mount Northern Sky at Kyneton)
